JP2007235645A - Digital camera and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively prevent a data loss or the like caused by an impact to a digital camera. <P>SOLUTION: The digital camera 100 having a blurring correction function discriminates that the impact to the digital camera 100 may occur when a blurring detection value by a pitch detection part 400a and a yaw detection part 400b required for a blurring correction operation exceeds blurring caused by a camera shake, etc. When it is discriminated that the impact to the digital camera 100 may occur, the break of a hard disk device 510 by the impact is prevented and a loss of image pickup data caused by the break of the hard disk device 510 by executing a protecting operation for evacuating the head of the hard disk device 510 which is a configuration for storing a pickup image. In addition, damage to a lens unit 200 is prevented by executing a protecting operation for storing the lens unit 200 which is a collapsible lens unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera and a program, and particularly to a digital camera having a hard disk.

  In digital cameras such as a digital still camera and a digital video camera, image quality has been improved by increasing the number of pixels of an image sensor. Although the image quality is improved by increasing the number of pixels, the amount of image data increases in proportion to this. Therefore, it is necessary to mount a storage device that can store such large image data.

  In many digital cameras, a memory card using a semiconductor storage device such as a flash memory is generally adopted as an image storage medium. However, since the unit price per unit storage capacity is relatively high, Memory cards may not be cost effective.

  On the other hand, in the case of a storage device using a hard disk, the unit price per unit storage capacity is cheaper than that of a semiconductor storage device, and the capacity can be easily increased. In recent years, the size of hard disk devices has been reduced, which is suitable as a mass storage device mounted on a digital camera.

  However, such a hard disk device has a drawback of being vulnerable to vibration and shock. In the case of a digital camera that you carry with you, you can hit or drop it, so there is a high possibility of vibration or impact. Some music playback devices, which are similar portable devices, are equipped with a hard disk device. However, in the case of a music playback device, even if the data is lost due to damage to the hard disk device, the original data (For example, a CD), it can be restored. On the other hand, images taken with a digital camera are unique, and the loss of captured image data is a great loss for the user.

Therefore, unless a sufficient measure against vibration and shock is taken, it is very risky to adopt a hard disk device as a storage device of a digital camera. For this reason, establishment of an effective anti-shock technique for digital cameras is desired, and various techniques have been proposed. For example, by providing a pressure sensor, it is determined whether or not the user is gripping, and when not gripped, it is determined that the lens is falling and a lens is stored (for example, a patent) Reference 1).
JP 2004-117845 A

  However, the method disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot be used unless the user is holding the digital camera. Therefore, the impact could not be effectively prevented in various situations that may occur during carrying. Moreover, in the method of patent document 1, it is necessary to provide the pressure sensor for detecting a fall, and there also exists a problem that a cost increase and a structure will become complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera or the like that can easily realize effective anti-shock measures.

In order to achieve the above object, a digital camera according to the first aspect of the present invention provides:
In digital cameras with blur correction function,
An impact determination means for determining whether or not there is a possibility of an impact on the digital camera based on a detected value of movement applied to the digital camera, which is used for the operation of the blur correction function;
When the impact determination unit determines that there is a possibility that an impact on the digital camera is likely to occur, an impact resistant operation execution unit that controls a movable part applied to the digital camera and executes a protection operation of the movable part;
It is characterized by providing.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not there is a possibility of an impact on the digital camera by using a detection value used for a blur correction function that is generally installed in many digital cameras, When there is a possibility of occurrence of the shock, the protection operation is automatically performed on the movable part that is easily damaged, and thus the shock resistant operation can be easily realized.

In the above digital camera,
The movable part can be a hard disk device that stores at least captured image data of the digital camera.
It is desirable that the impact resistant operation executing means controls the hard disk device and executes a head retracting operation of the hard disk device as the protection operation.

  According to such a configuration, when there is a possibility of impact, the head of the hard disk device that saves the image captured by the digital camera is automatically retracted. Disappearance can be prevented.

The above digital camera
It is desirable to further include a storage medium determination unit that determines the type of a predetermined removable storage medium that is attached to the digital camera in order to store at least captured image data of the digital camera.
When the storage medium determination unit determines that the type of the removable storage medium attached to the digital camera is a hard disk device, the shock resistant operation execution unit controls the removable storage medium to control the protection operation. It is desirable to perform.

  According to such a configuration, even when a hard disk device that can be attached to and detached from a digital camera is used as an image storage medium, a protective operation such as retraction of the head is automatically executed when an impact may occur. Therefore, loss of captured image data can be prevented.

In the above digital camera,
The movable part may be a retractable lens unit. In this case, the impact-resistant operation executing means controls the retractable lens unit and executes the retracting lens unit storing operation as the protective operation. Is desirable.

  According to such a configuration, when the retractable lens unit is mounted on the digital camera, the lens unit is automatically stored when there is a possibility of an impact. Breakage can be prevented.

In the above digital camera,
It is desirable that the impact determination means determine whether or not there is a possibility of an impact on the digital camera based on a detection value by the angular velocity sensor.

  According to such a configuration, it is determined whether or not there is a possibility of occurrence of an impact by using a detection value of an angular velocity sensor that is normally used in a shake correction function that is generally installed in many digital cameras. Therefore, a protection operation that can effectively prevent data loss can be easily realized without preparing a special configuration.

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to the second aspect of the present invention is:
A computer that controls a digital camera with a blur correction function,
A function of acquiring a detected value of movement of the digital camera used for the operation of the blur correction function;
A function of determining whether or not an impact to the digital camera occurs based on the acquired detection value;
A function of determining whether a removable storage medium having a movable part is attached to the digital camera;
A function of generating a control signal for executing a protection operation of the movable part applied to the digital camera when it is determined that an impact occurs on the digital camera, and a function of controlling the corresponding movable part;
It is characterized by realizing.

  By applying such a program to an existing digital camera, it can function as the digital camera.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily realize a configuration that can effectively prevent a loss caused by an impact on a digital camera.

(Embodiment 1)
Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to a digital still camera having a shake correction function such as a camera shake correction function will be described below.

  The configuration of the digital camera according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external appearance and a part of an internal configuration of a digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment (FIG. 1A is a front view and FIG. 1B is a perspective view), and FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of.

  The digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment is a digital camera having a retractable lens. Therefore, a telescopic lens unit 200 as shown in FIG. 1 is configured in front of the digital camera 100. The lens unit 200 expands and contracts when the lens barrel is expanded and contracted, and is stored in the housing of the digital camera 100 when not used. In addition, an electric lens cover (not shown) is configured in the lens portion, and the lens cover is closed when the lens unit 200 is accommodated, and the lens cover is opened when extended. Accordingly, the lens unit 200 is provided with a motor (not shown) for expanding and contracting the lens barrel and opening and closing the lens cover, and operates based on an instruction from the control unit 110 (described later).

  For example, an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or an electrical signal (analog signal) photoelectrically converted by the image sensor is converted into digital data at a position where the image is formed by the lens unit 200. There is an imaging unit 300 configured by an ADC (Analog-Digital Converter) that performs conversion, and performs photoelectric conversion based on imaging to generate captured image data. In the present embodiment, the imaging unit 300 operates in response to an operation of the shutter button 131 disposed on the upper surface of the digital camera 100, and still imaging is performed.

  In this embodiment, a hard disk device 510 is mounted in the digital camera 100 as a storage device that stores such captured image data. The hard disk device 510 is, for example, a 1.8-inch small hard disk device, and is driven by a magnetic disk that rotates at high speed by a spindle motor and a VCM (Voice Coil Motor) as in a general hard disk device. It consists of a head.

  Further, as described above, the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment has a shake correction function, and the shake detection unit 400 for performing shake detection necessary for shake correction is configured in the digital camera 100. ing. The blur detection unit 400 according to the present embodiment is configured by an angular velocity sensor using, for example, a piezoelectric ceramic gyro. By detecting the rotational angular velocity generated in the digital camera 100 by such an angular velocity sensor, the blur of the digital camera 100 that causes a camera shake is detected.

  In this embodiment, at least the rotational angular velocity around the horizontal axis of the digital camera 100 (hereinafter referred to as “pitch”) and the rotational angular velocity around the vertical axis of the digital camera 100 (hereinafter referred to as “yaw”) are detected. Shall. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the digital camera 100 includes a pitch detection unit 400a for detecting the pitch and a yaw detection unit 400b for detecting yaw.

  The above is a schematic characteristic part of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment. The system configuration of such a digital camera 100 will be described with reference to FIG. As illustrated, the digital camera 100 includes a control unit 110, an operation unit 130, a display unit 140, a lens unit 200, an imaging unit 300, a shake detection unit 400, a storage unit 500, and the like.

  The control unit 110 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and controls each unit of the digital camera 100. In addition, by executing a program stored in the storage unit 500, each process described later is realized.

  The operation unit 130 includes various buttons and keys (including the shutter button 131) configured on the outer surface of the digital camera 100, generates an input signal corresponding to a user operation, and inputs the input signal to the control unit 110. The shutter button 131 is composed of a button that can be moved in the vertical direction in response to a press by the user, and a signal (hereinafter referred to as a “shutter signal”) instructing the start of shooting when pressed by the user. It is sent to the control unit 110. Note that the shutter button 131 may be constituted by, for example, a release or a remote controller.

  The display unit 140 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display device, and displays various images such as a predetermined menu screen in addition to displaying an image captured by the imaging unit 300 and a captured image stored in the storage unit 500. Display output.

  The lens unit 200, the imaging unit 300, and the blur detection unit 400 have the above-described configurations, and operate under the control of the control unit 110.

  The storage unit 500 is a storage device for storing data and programs necessary for the operation of the digital camera 100 in addition to the captured image captured by the digital camera 100. In addition to the hard disk device 510 described above, the storage unit 500 includes a semiconductor storage device 520 including, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a flash memory, and the like.

  In the present embodiment, a captured image storage area 511 for storing images captured by the digital camera 100 is prepared in the hard disk device 510. In addition, a backup area 521 for temporarily storing captured image data during imaging and a program storage area 522 for storing a program executed by the control unit 110 are prepared in the semiconductor storage device 520. Here, the backup area 521 is prepared in, for example, a RAM, and the program storage area 522 is prepared in, for example, a flash memory.

  When the control unit 110 executes the program stored in the program storage area 522, the control unit 110 functions as a configuration illustrated in FIG. 3 when executing each process described below. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions realized by the control unit 110. As illustrated, the control unit 110 functions as an imaging processing unit 111, an image processing unit 112, a shake correction processing unit 113, an impact resistant operation processing unit 114, and the like.

  The imaging processing unit 111 performs processing related to the imaging operation of the digital camera 100 in cooperation with the operation unit 130, the lens unit 200, the imaging unit 300, and the like.

  The image processing unit 112 cooperates with the display unit 140, the imaging unit 300, the hard disk device 510, the semiconductor storage device 520, and the like to perform image processing on the captured image and processing related to recording (saving) of the captured image. To do.

  The shake correction processing unit 113 cooperates with the imaging unit 300, the shake detection unit 400, and the like to perform processing related to the shake correction operation during imaging.

  The impact resistant operation processing unit 114 cooperates with the lens unit 200, the hard disk device 510, and the like to perform processing related to these impact resistant operations. The impact resistant operation processing unit 114 determines the possibility of an impact on the digital camera 100 based on the detection result of the shake detection unit 400 used in the shake correction operation by the shake correction processing unit 113 and generates the impact. If there is a possibility of this, a predetermined protection operation is performed on a configuration having movable parts such as the lens unit 200 and the hard disk device 510.

  In the present embodiment, each of the above-described configurations is logically realized by executing a program of the control unit 110. For example, each of these configurations may be an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or the like. It may be physically realized by hardware.

  Note that each of the above-described configurations is a main part necessary for carrying out the present invention, and in addition to these, the digital camera 100 includes other configurations and functions necessary as a digital camera, and other additional configurations and functions. Etc. shall be provided as necessary.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera 100 configured as described above will be described. First, an imaging process executed when still imaging is performed with the digital camera 100 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. This imaging process is started when the digital camera 100 is activated in the shooting mode or when the other mode is switched to the shooting mode.

  When the process is started, the imaging processing unit 111 determines whether or not the digital camera 100 is in a normal operation (step S101). In the present embodiment, a flag (hereinafter referred to as “impact resistant operation flag”) indicating that an impact resistant operation described later is performed is prepared in, for example, the semiconductor storage device 520, and the imaging processing unit 111 determines whether the normal operation is being performed based on the state of the shock resistant operation flag. The impact resistant operation flag is indicated as on / off by binary values of 1 and 0, for example, and the flag value is 1 for an on state and 0 for an off state. The flag is turned on during the impact resistant operation.

  Here, since the impact resistant operation has not been executed yet, the impact resistant operation flag is 0, indicating that the normal operation is being performed (step S101: Yes). In this case, an imaging operation is performed by the imaging processor 111 (step S102). Here, the lens unit 200 and the imaging unit 300 are driven and controlled to be in an imageable state. That is, the lens unit 200 is controlled to extend the lens barrel of the lens unit 200 and the lens cover is opened, and the imaging unit 300 is activated to start generating captured image data corresponding to the incident light on the lens unit 200. Let In addition, the imaging processing unit 111 controls the display unit 140 to perform image display based on the captured image data generated by the imaging unit 300.

  When the digital camera 100 is ready for imaging in this way, the imaging processing unit 111 instructs the blur correction processing unit 113 to start the blur correction operation. In response to the instruction from the imaging processing unit 111, the blur correction processing unit 113 controls the blur detection unit 400 to acquire a detection value indicating the rotational angular velocity detected by the pitch detection unit 400a and the yaw detection unit 400b (step S103). ).

  Based on the detection value acquired from the blur detection unit 400, the blur correction processing unit 113 performs a predetermined blur correction operation on the captured image obtained by the imaging operation started in step S101 (step S104). Here, the blur correction operation performed by the blur correction processing unit 113 is arbitrary, and an operation based on an existing blur correction technique is performed. For example, in the case of a method in which the image pickup element is moved in accordance with the shake to correct the shake, the shake correction processing unit 113 instructs the image pickup unit 300 to perform such an operation. Further, in the case of a method of correcting the blur by moving the lens, the blur correction processing unit 113 instructs the lens unit 200 to perform such an operation.

  The shake correction processing unit 113 always performs such a shake correction operation on the captured image. Therefore, the shake correction processing unit 113 acquires the detection value of the shake detection unit 400 as needed. Here, the shake correction processing unit 113 notifies the shock resistance operation processing unit 114 of the detection value of the shake detection unit 400 acquired in this way as needed. The shock resistant motion processing unit 114 determines whether or not there is a possibility of impact on the digital camera 100 based on the shake detection value notified from the shake correction processing unit 113 (step S105).

  In other words, the range of movement of the digital camera 100 that affects image blur such as camera shake can be assumed in advance, and when a large movement exceeding such a range is detected, for example, the digital camera 100 falls or the like It can be determined that some sort of abnormal movement has occurred. Accordingly, when a threshold value based on the range of the rotational angular velocity generated by camera shake or the like is defined in advance and a shake detection value that exceeds such a threshold value is generated, the shock resistant operation processing unit 114 determines that “the possibility of occurrence of an impact “Yes” is determined. In addition, the threshold value prescribed | regulated previously shall be previously stored in the memory | storage part 500, for example.

  Here, when the shake detection value from the shake detection unit 400 does not exceed the threshold value and the impact resistant operation processing unit 114 determines that “no impact is possible” (step S106: Yes), imaging is performed by pressing the shutter button 131. The imaging operation is continued until an instruction is given (step S107: No). In other words, the imaging operation is performed under the control of the imaging processing unit 111, and the blur correction by the blur correction processing unit 113 is performed.

  When the shutter button 131 is operated and an imaging instruction is input (step S107: Yes), the image processing unit 112 performs image processing on the captured image generated by the imaging unit 300 (step S108). Here, for example, compression of image data, adjustment of image quality, and the like are performed.

  When the image processing ends, the image processing unit 112 accesses the semiconductor storage device 520 and stores the captured image data in the backup area 521 (step S109). Here, before the captured image is stored in the captured image storage area 511 of the hard disk device 510, it is temporarily stored in the semiconductor storage device 520 and backed up.

  When the captured image data is stored in the backup area 521, the image processing unit 112 notifies the impact resistant operation processing unit 114 to that effect. In response to the notification from the image processing unit 112, the shock resistant operation processing unit 114 determines the possibility of occurrence of an impact based on the shake detection value obtained by the shake detection unit 400 acquired via the shake correction processing unit 113 ( Step S110). The determination operation here is the same as the operation in step S105 described above.

  Here, when it is determined that “there is no possibility of occurrence of impact” (step S111: Yes), the impact resistant operation processing unit 114 notifies the image processing unit 112 to that effect. In response to the notification from the shock resistant operation processing unit 114, the image processing unit 112 transfers and writes the captured image stored in the backup area 521 in step S109 to the captured image storage area 511 (step S112). The transfer in this case is assumed to be a copy from the backup area 521 to the captured image storage area 511.

  When the transfer from the backup area 521 to the captured image storage area 511 is completed (step S113: Yes), the image processing unit 112 deletes the captured image data stored in the backup area 521 of the transfer source (step S114).

  The processing as described above is repeatedly executed until there is a predetermined end instruction (for example, when the shooting mode is switched to another mode or when the digital camera 100 is turned off) (step S115: No). The process described above is an operation during normal use where there is no possibility of an impact on the digital camera 100. In this case, the picked-up image data is temporarily stored in the semiconductor storage device 520, and the picked-up image data is transferred to the hard disk device 510 when it is determined that there is no possibility of an impact. If an impact occurs while image data is being written to the device 510, the hard disk device 510 may be damaged and the image data may be lost. Therefore, the image data may be temporarily stored in a semiconductor storage device 520 that is resistant to the impact. This is to prevent data loss by writing to the hard disk device 510 when it is determined that there is no possibility of an impact based on the detected value.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S106 or step S111 that “impact may occur” (step S106: No, step S111: No), the impact resistant operation processing unit 114 executes an impact resistant operation process (step S200). . The impact resistant operation process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the processing is started, the impact resistant operation processing unit 114 sends a control signal instructing the head retracting of the hard disk device 510 to the hard disk device 510, thereby instructing the hard disk device 510 to retract the head (step S201). In this case, the head is retracted by driving the VCM of the hard disk device 510 by the control signal from the shock resistant operation processing unit 114 (step S202). Here, the head is driven so that the head is not positioned on the magnetic disk. Thereby, even if an impact occurs in the digital camera 100, the head does not come into contact with the magnetic disk, so that the magnetic disk can be prevented from being damaged. In other words, an operation for protecting the semiconductor memory device 520 is executed under the control of the impact resistant operation processing unit 114.

  The impact resistant operation processing unit 114 also stores the lens barrel of the lens unit 200 and sends a control signal for instructing the operation of closing the lens cover to the lens unit 200, thereby instructing the lens unit 200 to perform the storing operation ( Step S203). In this case, the motor of the lens unit 200 is driven by the control signal from the impact resistant operation processing unit 114, the lens barrel is contracted and housed in the digital camera 100, and the lens cover is closed (step S204). That is, an operation for protecting the lens unit 200 is executed under the control of the impact resistant operation processing unit 114.

  When the operation for protecting the lens unit 200 and the hard disk device 510, which are movable parts of the digital camera 100, is executed in this way, the impact resistant operation processing unit 114 sets the impact resistant operation flag from 0 to 1. Is turned on (step S205), and the flow returns to the imaging processing flow shown in FIG.

  In the imaging process, it is determined in step S101 whether or not the normal operation is being performed based on the shock resistant operation flag. However, since the flag is set in step S205 of the shock resistant operation process (FIG. 5) described above. The imaging processing unit 111 determines that the shock-proof operation is being performed (that is, the normal operation is not performed) (No in step S101). In this case, the return operation processing for returning the protection operation performed in the above-described impact resistant operation processing is executed by the impact resistant operation processing unit 114 (step S300). This return operation process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the processing is started, the shock resistant operation processing unit 114 starts timer timing by the operation of a timer circuit used for the clock function of the digital camera 100, for example (step S301). When the predetermined time has elapsed (step S302: Yes), the shake detection value of the shake detection unit 400 is acquired via the shake correction processing unit 113 (step S303).

  The shock resistant motion processing unit 114 determines whether or not the shock occurrence possibility that triggered the execution of the shock resistant motion processing has converged based on the acquired shake detection value (step S304). In this case, if the acquired blur detection value still exceeds the above-described threshold, it is determined that the possibility of impact occurrence has not yet converged (step S304: No).

  In this case, for example, there is a possibility that the shake detection value is abnormal due to a sensor error constituting the shake detection unit 400. Therefore, the shock resistant operation processing unit 114 performs an operation check of the shake detection unit 400 on the shake correction process. The unit 113 is instructed. In response to an instruction from the impact resistant motion processing unit 114, the motion compensation processing unit 113 performs an operation check of the motion detection unit 400. Here, if there is any malfunction, it is determined as a sensor error (step S315: Yes), and the return operation process is terminated by performing a predetermined error process (step S500). In this case, the error processing performs an operation such as prompting the user to reset the shake detection unit 400 or the digital camera 100 by displaying a predetermined error message on the display unit 140, for example.

  On the other hand, if the operation check of the shake detection unit 400 is normal, it is determined that the sensor error is not detected (step S315: No). In this case, the process returns to step S301, and it is determined whether or not the possibility of impact occurrence has converged every predetermined time.

  If it is determined that the possibility of impact has converged based on the shake detection value of the shake detection unit 400 (step S304: Yes), the impact resistant operation processing unit 114 sets the impact resistant operation flag that is turned on from 1. Reset to 0 (step S305).

  The shock-resistant operation processing unit 114 determines whether the above-described shock-resistant operation processing (FIG. 5) was being performed by the digital camera 100 during the image capturing operation or during storage of the captured image (step S306). Here, if the shock-resistant operation process is started by the determination in step S106 of the imaging process shown in FIG. 4, it is determined that the imaging operation is being performed, and if it is started by the determination in step S111, the captured image is determined. Is determined to be in progress.

  When it is determined that the imaging operation is being performed (step S306: Yes), the shock resistant operation processing unit 114 stores the lens unit 200 that is immediately required for continuing the imaging operation among the movable units that have performed the protection operation. By sending a control signal instructing the return from the state, the return of the lens unit 200 is instructed (step S307). At this time, the impact resistant operation processing unit 114 performs a predetermined operation check on the lens unit 200 (step S308), and determines whether or not the lens unit 200 operates normally (step S309).

  If the lens unit 200 does not operate normally as a result of the operation check (step S309: No), the shock resistant operation processing unit 114 ends the return operation processing by performing a predetermined error process (step S500). The error process in this case is the same as the process at the time of a sensor error of the shake detection unit 400 described above.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the lens unit 200 operates normally (step S309: Yes), or when it is determined in step S306 that the execution of the impact resistant operation process is in the process of storing the captured image (step S306: No). The shock resistant operation processing unit 114 instructs the hard disk device 510 to return by sending a control signal instructing the return of the operation to the hard disk device 510 whose head has been retracted by the protection operation (step S310). At this time, the shock resistant operation processing unit 114 performs a predetermined operation check on the hard disk device 510 (step S311), and determines whether or not the hard disk device 510 operates normally (step S312).

  If the hard disk device 510 does not operate normally as a result of the operation check (step S312: No), the shock resistant operation processing unit 114 ends the return operation processing by performing a predetermined error process (step S500). The error process in this case is the same as the process at the time of a sensor error of the shake detection unit 400 described above.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the hard disk device 510 operates normally, the shock resistant operation processing unit 114 instructs the image processing unit 112 to resume the image storage operation interrupted by the execution of the shock resistant operation processing. Instruct. In response to the instruction from the shock resistant operation processing unit 114, the image processing unit 112 transfers the captured image data stored in the backup area 521 to the captured image storage area 511 (step S313). Here, when the transfer to the captured image storage area 511 is not normally performed (step S314: No), the image processing unit 112 ends the return operation process by performing a predetermined error process (step S500). The error process in this case is the same as the process at the time of a sensor error of the shake detection unit 400 described above.

  On the other hand, when the transfer to the captured image storage area 511 is normally performed (step S314: Yes), the return operation process is terminated, and the process returns to the flow of the imaging process illustrated in FIG. In the imaging process, the imaging operation is continued until a predetermined end instruction is issued. That is, the protection operation performed by the shock resistant operation process is canceled by the return operation process, and the operation returns to the imaging operation.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, whether or not there is a possibility of an impact on the digital camera 100 is detected using the detection value of the shake detection unit 400 provided in the digital camera 100 having the shake correction function. If there is a possibility of occurrence of an impact, an operation for protecting the lens unit 200 and the hard disk device 510, which are movable parts, is automatically executed.

  Here, when the captured image data is stored, it is temporarily stored in the backup area 521 of the semiconductor storage device 520 and is transferred to the captured image storage area 511 when there is no possibility of occurrence of an impact. In addition to preventing data from being lost due to an impact during storage in the captured image storage area 511, an impact occurs during writing to the captured image storage area 511 and writing is in progress. Even if data is lost, since the latest captured image is stored in the backup area 521, it is not lost completely.

  In this case, if an impact occurs during writing to the hard disk device 510, there is a high possibility that data in the storage area corresponding to the head position at that time will be lost, but data in other storage areas will not be lost. Since there is a high possibility, the captured image already stored in the captured image storage area 511 is highly likely to be extracted even if the hard disk device 510 is damaged. Therefore, loss of important captured images can be effectively prevented.

  In addition, since a protective operation is performed on a relatively expensive lens as a part of the digital camera, economic loss can be reduced even when the digital camera 100 is damaged by an impact such as dropping.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the case where the hard disk device 510 is mounted as the image storage medium of the digital camera 100 has been described. However, a storage device that can be attached to and detached from the digital camera may be employed as a medium for storing captured images. The present invention can be applied. An example of the digital camera 100 in this case is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment has a slot 550 for mounting a removable storage device in addition to the components described in the first embodiment. The slot 550 is connected to the control unit 110, and reading / writing to the storage device mounted in the slot 550 is performed by processing of the image processing unit 112. In the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment, the configuration other than the slot 550 is basically the same as the configuration of the digital camera 100 in the first embodiment, but the hard disk device 510 is provided in the present embodiment. Shall not.

  Assume that the slot 550 according to this embodiment can be mounted with two different storage devices. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a hard disk card 530 that is a detachable hard disk device and a memory card 540 that is a detachable semiconductor storage device can be mounted. In this embodiment, only one of the hard disk card 530 and the memory card 540 may be installed in the slot 550, or both the hard disk card 530 and the memory card 540 may be installed in the slot 550 at the same time. .

  As described above, the hard disk device 510 is not configured in the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment, but the captured image storage area 511 configured in the hard disk device 510 in the first embodiment is mounted in the slot 550. It is assumed that the storage medium is configured. The semiconductor storage device 520 is the same as that in the first embodiment, but the prepared storage area is different depending on the storage medium mounted in the slot 550. In this embodiment, when both the hard disk card 530 and the memory card 540 are installed in the slot 550, the backup area 521 is configured in the memory card 540, and either the hard disk card 530 or the memory card 540 is a slot. When mounted on the 550, the backup area 521 is configured in the semiconductor memory device 520.

  Therefore, when performing an imaging operation with the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment, it is necessary to identify and set the type of the storage medium mounted in the slot 550. The storage medium identification process executed by the control unit 110 in this case will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This storage medium identification process is started when the digital camera 100 is activated in the shooting mode or when the other mode is switched to the shooting mode, as in the imaging process in the first embodiment. .

  When the processing is started, the image processing unit 112 accesses the slot 550 and determines whether or not a storage device is attached (step S401). Here, if no storage device is mounted in the slot 550 (step S401: No), the captured image cannot be stored, so that a predetermined error process is performed and the storage medium identification process is terminated (step S500). ). The operation content of this error processing is the same as the error processing in the return operation processing (FIG. 6) of the first embodiment.

  On the other hand, when a storage device is mounted in the slot 550 (step S401: Yes), the image processing unit 112 determines whether or not the hard disk card 530 is in the mounted storage device (step S402). As described above, since the hard disk card 530 and the memory card 540 can be simultaneously installed in the slot 550, the slot 550 is constituted by two slots corresponding to the respective connecting portions. Therefore, the image processing unit 112 determines whether the installed storage device is the hard disk card 530 depending on which of the two slots is installed.

  When the storage device installed in the slot 550 includes the hard disk card 530 (step S402: Yes), the image processing unit 112 displays a flag (hereinafter referred to as “protection”) indicating whether or not the storage operation for storing the captured image is necessary. It is turned on by setting 1 to “operation flag” (step S403). This protection operation flag has a binary structure of 1 and 0. In the case of 1, the protection operation flag indicates that a protection operation to the storage device that stores the captured image is necessary when the above-described shock resistant operation processing is executed. . On the other hand, in the case of 0, it indicates that the protection operation for the storage device that stores the captured image is not required in the impact resistant operation process.

  Similar to the hard disk device 510, the hard disk card 530 formed of a hard disk is also vulnerable to impact. Therefore, when the hard disk card 530 is mounted as a storage device for storing the captured image, the same protective operation as the protective operation performed on the hard disk device 510 in the shock resistant operation process (FIG. 5) of the first embodiment. Is required. Therefore, when the hard disk card 530 is inserted, the protection operation flag is set to 1. This protection operation flag is prepared in the semiconductor memory device 520.

  When the protection operation flag is turned on, the image processing unit 112 creates a captured image storage area 511 that is an area for storing a captured image in the hard disk card 530 mounted in the slot 550 (step S404).

  When the captured image storage area 511 is created in the hard disk card 530, the image processing unit 112 determines whether or not the storage device mounted in the slot 550 is only the hard disk card 530 (step S405). When the storage device installed in the slot 550 is only the hard disk card 530 (step S405: Yes), the image processing unit 112 accesses the semiconductor storage device 520 and temporarily stores the captured image in the hard disk card 530. A backup area 521 for storing data is created in the semiconductor memory device 520 (step S406), and the process ends.

  If the storage device installed in the slot 550 is not the hard disk card 530 but the memory card 540 (step S402: No), the image processing unit 112 creates a captured image storage area 511 in the installed memory card 540. At the same time (step S407), a backup area 521 is created in the semiconductor memory device 520 (step S406), and the process ends.

  When both the hard disk card 530 and the memory card 540 are installed in the slot 550 (step S405: No), the image processing unit 112 creates a backup area 521 in the memory card 540 installed in the slot 550. (Step S408), and the process ends.

  Through the above processing, the captured image storage area 511 and the backup area 521 are created according to the type of storage device mounted in the slot 550. In the case of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment, after such a storage medium determination process is executed at the start of the imaging operation, the imaging process (FIG. 4) shown in the first embodiment is executed. When it is determined that there is a possibility of an impact during the execution of the imaging process and the impact resistant operation process (FIG. 5) is to be executed, the impact resistant operation processing unit 114 refers to the setting state of the protection operation flag. When the protection operation flag is 1, the impact resistant operation processing unit 114 executes the protection operation for the storage device in which the captured image storage area 511 is created in addition to the protection operation for the lens unit 200.

  As described above, when the hard disk card 530 is installed in the slot 550, the protection operation flag is turned on, and therefore the shock resistant operation processing unit 114 executes the protection operation for the hard disk card 530. The protection operation for the hard disk card 530 is to retract the head in the same manner as the protection operation for the hard disk device 510 shown in the first embodiment. Here, when both the hard disk card 530 and the memory card 540 are installed in the slot 550, the backup area 521 is created in the memory card 540. In this case, for example, the captured image may be stored in the backup area 521 after the transfer to the hard disk card 530 according to the storage capacity of the memory card 540. As a result, a more reliable backup against damage to the hard disk card 530 can be achieved.

  On the other hand, when the hard disk card 530 is not installed in the slot 550, the protection operation flag is 0. In this case, the impact resistant operation processing unit 114 performs a protection operation only on the lens unit 200.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a hard disk device is included in a removable storage device for storing an image, there is a possibility of occurrence of an impact based on a shake detection value used for a shake correction function. In the case where there is a possibility of occurrence of an impact, the protection operation for the removable hard disk device is executed, so even if a removable storage device is used, the same effect as in the first embodiment is obtained. Can be obtained.

  That is, by applying the present invention as in the above-described embodiment, even when a hard disk device is used as a storage device for storing a captured image of a digital camera, the loss of captured image data due to an impact is effectively prevented. Can be prevented. In addition, since the presence or absence of the possibility of impact is determined using a sensor for a shake correction function that is generally installed in a digital camera, a dedicated sensor or the like is not required. That is, effective prevention of data loss can be easily realized. Further, since the protection operation is performed on the movable part such as the retractable lens, it is possible to effectively prevent the movable part that is easily damaged, and to reduce the economic loss caused by the damage.

  The said embodiment is an example and the application range of this invention is not restricted to this. That is, various applications are possible, and all embodiments are included in the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, an angular velocity sensor configured with a piezoelectric ceramic gyro or the like is used as the shake detection unit 400. However, the type of the sensor is arbitrary as long as the shake necessary for the shake detection function can be detected. For example, an acceleration sensor that detects acceleration generated in the digital camera 100 may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the lens unit 200, the hard disk device 510, and the hard disk card 530 are exemplified as the target for performing the protective operation. However, the movable unit is easily damaged, and can perform an operation that can reduce the possibility of damage. If there is, it is not limited to these, and the protection operation may be performed on an arbitrary movable part.

  In addition to being able to provide the present invention as a digital camera 100 to which the present invention is applied in advance as in the above embodiment, the program executed by the control unit 110 in the above embodiment is applied to an existing digital camera having a shake correction function. Then, the digital camera 100 according to the above embodiment can be made to function. In other words, by providing a program executed by the control unit 110 and installing and executing the program on an existing digital camera having a shake correction function, a function equivalent to that of the digital camera 100 according to the above embodiment can be obtained. .

  The method of providing such a program is arbitrary. For example, the program may be distributed via a communication medium such as the Internet as well as being provided by being stored in a recording medium such as a memory card.

(A) And (b) is a figure which shows the external appearance and internal structure of the digital camera concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a digital camera according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function implement | achieved by the control part shown in FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the "imaging process" concerning embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an “impact resistant operation process” executed in the imaging process shown in FIG. 4. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a “return operation process” executed in the imaging process shown in FIG. 4. It is a figure which shows the external appearance and internal structure of the digital camera concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the "storage medium identification process" concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Digital camera, 110 ... Control part, 111 ... Imaging processing part, 112 ... Image processing part, 113 ... Shake correction processing part, 114 ... Impact-resistant operation processing part, 130 ... Operation part, 131 ... Shutter button, 140 ... Display 200, lens unit, 300 ... imaging unit, 400 ... blur detection unit, 400a ... pitch detection unit, 400b ... yaw detection unit, 500 ... storage unit, 510 ... hard disk device, 511 ... captured image storage region, 520 ... semiconductor Storage device, 521 ... Backup area, 522 ... Program storage area, 530 ... Hard disk card, 540 ... Memory card, 550 ... Slot

Claims (6)

In digital cameras with blur correction function,
An impact determination means for determining whether or not there is a possibility of an impact on the digital camera based on a detected value of movement applied to the digital camera, which is used for the operation of the blur correction function;
When the impact determination unit determines that there is a possibility that an impact on the digital camera is likely to occur, an impact resistant operation execution unit that controls a movable part applied to the digital camera and executes a protection operation of the movable part;
A digital camera characterized by comprising: The movable part is a hard disk device that stores at least captured image data of the digital camera,
The impact resistant operation executing means controls the hard disk device and executes a head retracting operation of the hard disk device as the protection operation.
The digital camera according to claim 1. A storage medium discriminating unit for discriminating a type of a predetermined removable storage medium attached to the digital camera in order to store at least captured image data of the digital camera;
When the storage medium determination unit determines that the type of the removable storage medium attached to the digital camera is a hard disk device, the shock resistant operation execution unit controls the removable storage medium to control the protection operation. Run the
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera is a digital camera. The movable part is a retractable lens unit,
The impact resistant operation executing means controls the retractable lens unit and executes a retracting operation of the retractable lens unit as the protective operation.
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera is a digital camera. The impact determination means determines whether or not there is a possibility of an impact on the digital camera based on a detection value by an angular velocity sensor;
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera is a digital camera. A computer that controls a digital camera with a blur correction function,
A function of acquiring a detected value of movement of the digital camera used for the operation of the blur correction function;
A function of determining whether or not an impact to the digital camera occurs based on the acquired detection value;
A function of determining whether a removable storage medium having a movable part is attached to the digital camera;
A function of generating a control signal for executing a protection operation of the movable part applied to the digital camera when it is determined that an impact occurs on the digital camera, and a function of controlling the corresponding movable part;
A program characterized by realizing.

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